Vibrator housing



Feb. 5, 1963 E. F. PETERSON 3,076,346

VIBRATOR HOUSING Filed Aug. 28, 1959 IN VEN TOR. E. F. PETERSON ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,976,346 VIBRATGR HGUSING Edwin F. Peterson, Martin Engineering Co.,

- Neponset, llll.

Filed Aug. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 836,768 8 Cla ms. (Cl. 74-87) at a selected speed to create forces which are transmitted I to the object or structure to which the vibrator is attached. Because of the extremely high forces developed, it is desirable that the vibrator be sturdily but inexpensively constructed and that the assembled components thereof be so related as to permit of a substantial degree of precision in manufacture. Another desirable object is that the vibrator be substantially free from operational difficulties and structural failures. Accordingly, it is'the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved vibrator and primarily to provide an improved vibrator housing structure. It is a feature of the invention to provide a vibrator housing in the form of a fabricated structure of relatively light sheet metal comprising a pair of complementary shell-like halves having marginal or peripheral flanges abutted and welded together to form the housing, opposite walls of the housing having coaxial apertures therein for carrying supports for the vibrator mechanism. his a further object of the invention to construct the housing in such manner as to improve the means whereby the vibrator is attached to the object or structure to be vibrated. Another object of the invention resides in a different form of vibrator in which the structure is such that the vibrator housing may be attached to the face of an object or structure to be vibrated. A still further object resides in improved means for mounting the vibrator on the object or structure.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent as preferred embodiments of 'the invention are disclosed in detail in the ensuing description and the accompanying sheet of drawings, the several figures of which are described below.

FlGURE 1 is a perspective of one form of vibrator.

FIGURE 2 is a sectionthrough the structure of FIG- URE l, drawn to a larger scale.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a modified form of vibrator.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the structure of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the structure of FIG- URES 3 and 4.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the formation of part of the structured FIGURES 3, 4 and 5.

The vibrator shown in FIGURES l and 2 comprises basically a housing 10 made up of a pair of complementary shell-like halves l2 and 14. The shell or half 12 has an outer side wall 16 and peripheral or marginal flange portions which extend inwardly from and generally normal to the plane of the wall 16. The other shell 14 has a similar outer wall 20 and marginal flange portions 22. The two halves may be regarded as symmetrical at opposite sides of a median plane represented by the junction at 24 at which the inner terminal edges of the flange portions 18 and 22 abut. The two halves are rigidly secured by welding along this junction at the median plane at 24. The halves are of relatively lightweight sheet metal of sufiicient strength and rigidity to Patented Feb. 55, 1953 provide the desirable qualities of strength, rigidity and economy. Before assembly, each half is notched at an upper peripheral portion thereof so that the two notched portions cooperate to afford an access opening 26 which is normally closed by a removable cover 28 having removable fasteners Iitl. Upper apertures in the respective halves carry spools or sleeves 32 by means of which the opposite legs of a bail 34 may be received to provide a handle for carrying the vibrator. Opposite ends of the legs are threaded to receive nuts 36 for securing the handle in place.

. The outer wallslo and lit are provided respectively with coaxial apertures 38 and 4d, and these apertures are instrumental in carryingvibrator mechanism which includes supports or carriers 42 and 44 received respectively in the openings 33 and 40. The carrier or support 42 is welded to the wall 16 about the opening 33 at as. Welding at 48 is similarly employed to rigidly secure the other.

carrier 44 in place in its opening id in the wall 23. The supports include anti-friction bearings 5.0 and 52 and these bearings carry a coaxial hollow shaft 54 which re ceive the output shaft 56 of any suitable driving source, here shown as a pneumatic motor 53. The shaft has secured thereto for rotation therewith an .arm which mounts a vibrator weight 6t As the shaft is rotated, the weight swings about the axis of the shaft within the compartment formed by the housing.

For the purpose of affording additional strength in the housing, each of the walls 16 and 29 is doubled by the mounting thereon of a dished member. The member for the wall 16 is shown at so and comprises a central portion 64 spaced outwardly from the wall 16 and a pcripheral portion or welded to the outer face o-fthe Wall lid at 68. The member 62 has a central aperture 7% coaxial with the opening 38 in the wall to, and this aperture additionally receives the support or carrier 42. The member 52 has its opening closed by a cap '72 which may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the carrier or support 4 2. The cap is provided with a lubricant supply passage 74 by means of which lubricant is furnished to the bearing 50.

At the opposite side of the housing, a dished member 76 has a central portion 755 spaced outwardly from the associated wall 24 and a peripheral portion as welded at 82 to the outer face of the wall Zll. This member is provided with a coaxial opening 83 which receives and supports the outer portion of the carrier or support 4-4. An additional ring-like member 84; is secured as by bolts 86 to the dished member 76 and is apertured at 88 to permit receipt of the inner part of the motor 58. A lubricant supply passage 9% is provided in the ring 84 to enable the supply of lubricant to the proximate bearing 52.

The housing is so shaped as to provide opposite corners; one of which clearly appears at 92 and the other of which will be obvious from the fact that the housing is symmetrical from end to end at its bottom. Each corner 92 has a mounting portion which is formed of associated inturned parts 94 of the bottom flange portions 18 and 22 and the housing is angled at this portion so that the parts 94 afford a mounting pad for a mounting element 96. This element is welded to the mounting pad thus provided along junctions represented by the lead line from the numeral 92 and the further junction ,at 98. As best shown in FIGURE 2, each mounting element 96 provides means whereby the vibrator may be mounted on an object or structure to be vibrated, and to this end provides a pair of legs Mid and 1532 which are spaced apart to aiforda gap lit-dthere.- between. The leg Edd has an opening or bore res therethrough'and is further provided at its inner face with a coaxial recess 19%. The purpose of the recess 3 is to receive in part a hardened insert 110 which is internally tapped to receive a cap screw 112 which is passed through the opening 166 and threaded into the tapped bore of the insert. This secures the insert in place. The opposite leg 102 has a tapped bore 114 into which is threaded a cap screw 116 having its inner end hardened. When the object to be vibrated is received between the legs 1% and 192, in the cap 1&4, the cap screw 116 may be tightened to secure the vibrator rigidly in place.

Because of the welded fabrication of the housing, the housing is compact and may be inexpensively constructed. Yet, it is expected to have extremely long life, especially because of the double-wall structure provided at 16-62 and 2ti76. Further, the improved mounting of the elements 96 assures that adequate surface for welding is provided along the junctions 92 and 98 as previously described. This reduces the overall cost of the vibrator, both as to original cost and maintenance and affords an extremely desirable and highly commercially acceptable product.

Many of the features of the housing construction embodied in the structure of FIGURES 1 and 2 are carried over into the modified embodiment shown in FIG- URES 3, 4, 5 and 6. In this embodiment, many of the parts, particularly of the vibrator mechanism, already adequately described in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2, have been omitted. However, the modified vibrator is essentially the same, to the extent that it is made up of a housing 126' formed of fabricated light-weight steel including complementary halves 122 and 124, each half being of shell-like construction provided With integral flange portions which cooperate to afford a marginal or peripheral wall 126 in which the inner terminal edges of the flange portions meet at a Welded junction 123 on the median plane of the structure.

FIGURE 6 shows the pre-forrned status of one of the halves, that being selected being the half 124, from which it will be seen that the central portion of the sheet, before bending, forms the outer side wall 13% to which are integrally attached a plurality of flange portions 132, each of which is capable of being bent inwardly along a bend line as at 134. Since the two halves are identical, or at least symmetrical, the assembly will be clear. One of the flange portions 32 is notched, as at 136, so that when the two parts are assembled, an access opening is provided at 138 (FIGURE 3). Tapped bores 140 are shown for the purpose of receiving a removable cover such as that at 23 in FIGURES l and 2. The wall 124 has a central aperture 142 which corresponds to the aperture 40 in the structure of FIGURES l and 2. The other Wall is similarly apertured and the two spaced walls carry supports such as those at 42 and 44 for the purpose of mounting the vibrator mechanism and associated motor. Since these have already been described in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2, they need not be repeated.

It is a further characteristic of this form of the invention that the plate forming the wall 124 and associated flanges 134- is notched at each of its four corners at 144. When the flange portions 132 are bent down or inwardly, portions thereof, as at 146, will cooperate with and border the notches to provide mounting portions for carrying mounting elements, each of which is here in the form of a tube 148 having its axis parallel to the axis through the opening 142. The assembly of each tube 148 to the mounting portion thus provided is accomplished by welding at 150, it being understood that the construction is the same at each of the four corners. The tubular members M8 thus provide a plurality of openings through which bolts (not shown) may be passed to mount the vibrator housing directly on the face of a structure or object to be vibrated. At the same time, the tubular members add strength to the transverse dimension of the vibrator.

4: of FIGURES 3 through 6 in a manner similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 2, the former may be readily provided with mounting elements such as at 96.

A still further means of mounting the structure of FIGURES 3 through 6 is illustrated espesially in FIG- URES 3 through 5, wherein there is shown a mounting place 152 provided with integral upstanding ears 154 which are respectively apertured in alinement for the purpose of receiving bolt 156 passed respectively through the associated tubular members 148 and receiving nuts 158 for completing the assembly. Additional means of fastening may be provided in the form of one or more openings 160 through the plate 152. Thus, the versatility of the vibrator is increased.

The housing structure of FIGURES 3 through 6 can be completed by supports or carriers and bearings, etc. such as those at 42, 44, 50, 52, 72, '76 in FIGURES l and 2.

As will be readily seen, all forms of vibrator construction provide simple, inexpensive and extremely sturdy structures, readily adapted for the uses to which put.

Features in addition to those outlined herein will be readily recognized by those versed in the art, as will many modifications and alterations in preferred embodiments disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A vibrator of the class described, comprising: a housing fabricated of relatively light steel and including spaced apart parallel side walls and a peripheral wall joining said side walls, said housing being made up of a pair of housing halves, each in the form of a shell having the respective side wall and integral flanges on said side walls and directed inwardly to coplanar inner terminal edges, said shells when assembled forming said housing and said flanges of one shell meeting the flanges of the other shell with their inner terminal edges abutting at a welded junction in the median plane of the housing, said side walls respectively having apertures therein coaxial on an axis normal to said side walls; vibrator mechanism within the housing and including a shaft on said axis and a In the event that it is desired to mount the structure pair of coaxially spaced apart supports received in and rigidly secured to the respective side walls about the respective apertures; said peripheral wall being shaped to provide a pair of spaced apart corners including integral inturned parts of the aforesaid flanges, each corner including a notch bordered by the respective inturned parts; and mounting elements respectively at the corners and respectively received in the notches and welded to the respective notch-bordering parts.

2. The invention defined in claim I, in which: each mounting element is tubular on an axis paralleling the shaft axis.

3. For a vibrator of the class described, a housing fabri' cated of relatively light steel and including spaced apart parallel side walls and a peripheral wall joining said side walls, saidv housing being made up of a pair of housing halves, each in the form of a shell having the respective side wall and integral flanges on said side wall and directed inwardly to coplanar inner terminal edges, said shells when assembled forming said housing and said flanges of one shell meeting the flanges of the other shell with their inner terminal edges abutting at a welded junction in the median plane of the housing, said side walls respectively having apertures therein coaxial on an axis normal to said side walls, said peripheral wall being shaped to provide a pair of spaced apart corners including integral inturned parts of the aforesaid flanges, each corner including a notch bordered by the respective inturned parts; and mounting elements respectively at the corners and respectively received in the notches and welded to the respective notch-bordering parts.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, in which: each mounting element is tubular on an axis paralleling the shaft axis.

5. A vibrator housing of the class described, comprising: a box-like structure having opposite generally parallel side walls of substantially similar shape, each affording at least two spaced corners and the corners of one side wall being respectively alined and paired with the corners of the other side wall, and a peripheral wall joined to and bridging the side walls, said side walls having notches at their paired corners and the peripheral wall being interrupted at said notches to provide notch-bordering parts; and a pair of mounting elements, one at each pair of corners and received in the associated notches and engaged by the associated notch-bordering parts.

6. A vibrator housing of the class described, comprising: a box-like structure fabricated of relatively light sheet steel and having a pair of spaced apart generally parallel side walls and a pair of corners; and a pair of mouniing elements provided initially as components separate from said structure and assembled with and rigidly secured to said structure respectively at said corners, each element being of tubular section on an axis normal to the side walls.

7. A vibrator housing of the class described, comprising: a box-like structure fabricated of relatively light sheet steel and having a pair of spaced apart generally parallel side walls, a peripheral wall and a pair of corners; and a pair of mounting elements provided initially as components separate from said structure and assembled with and rigidly secured to said structure re pectively at said corners, said side and peripheral walls being recessed at said corners to accommodate said elements.

8. A vibrator housing of the class described, comprising: a box-like structure fabricated of relatively light sheet steel and having a pair of spaced apart generally parallel side walls and a peripheral wall; and a pair of tubular mountingelements initially separate from but rigidly assembled to said structure normal to and intersecting the side walls and located generally within the bounds of the peripheral wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,017,840 Amet Feb. 20, 1912 1,733,373 Jubien et al. Oct. 29, 1929 1,786,192 Cullman Dec. 23, 1930 1,845,941 Stevens et al. Feb. 16, 1932 1,902,934 Acker Mar. 28, 1933 2,059,754 Shaler Nov. 3, 1936 2,144,382 Lincoln et a1. Jan. 17, 1939 2,545,245 Stutz Mar. 13, 1951 2,599,496 Soldan June 3, 1952 2,628,806 OBrien Feb. 17, 1953 2,688,417 Bowers Sept. 7, 1954 2,738,894 Cook et al. Mar. 20, 1956 2,754,991 Hagerty et al. July 17, 1956 2,762,595 Jenne Sept. 11, 1956 2,851,896 Ordway Sept. 16, 1958 2,965,346 Collins et al. Dec. 20, 1960 

1. A VIBRATOR OF THE CLASS DESCIBED, COMPRISING: A HOUSING FABRICATED OF RELATIVELY LIGHT STEEL AND INCLUDING SPACED APART PARALLEL SIDE WALLS AND A PERIPHERAL WALL JOINING SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID HOUSING BEING MADE UP OF A PAIR OF HOUSING HALVES, EACH IN THE FORM OF A SHELL HAVING THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WALL AND INTERGRAL FLANGES ON SAID SIDE WALLS AND DIRECTED INWARDLY TO COPLANAR INNER TERMINAL EDGES, SAID SHELLS WHEN ASSEMBLED FORMING SAID HOUSING AND SAID FLANGES OF ONE SHELL MEETING THE FLANGES OF THE OTHER SHELL WITH THEIR INNER TERMINAL EDGES ABUTTING AT A WELDED JUNCTION IN THE MEDIAN PLANE OF THE HOUSING, SAID SIDE WALLS RESPECTIVELY HAVING APERTURES THEREIN COAXIAL ON AN AXIS NORMAL TO SAID SIDE WALLS; VIBRATOR MECHANISM WITHIN THE HOUSING AND INCLUDING A SHAFT ON SAID AXIS AND A PAIR OF COAXIALLY SPACED APART SUPPORTS RECEIVED IN AND RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WAILS ABOUT THE RESPECTIVE APERTURES; SAID PERIPHERAL WALL BEING SHAPED TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF SPACED APART CORNERS INCLUDING INTEGRAL INTURNED PARTS OF THE AFORESAID FLANGES, EACH CORNER INCLUDING A NOTCH BORDERED BY THE RESPECTIVE INTURNED PARTS; AND MOUNTING ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY AT THE CORNERS AND RESPECTIVELY RECEIVED IN THE NOTCHES AND WELDED TO THE RESPECTIVE NOTCH-BORDERING PARTS. 